Privatization of educational provision in Chile: characterization of the educational providers a popular community

ABSTRACT:

The private sector has been present in Chile since the beginning of compulsory education in the XX century. Recently, the education system is largely controlled by the private sector, although it is state-funded. This situation has been reinforced since the 1982 Neoliberal Reform. The private subsidized education has dramatically increased since 1995. Who are the providers (or stakeholders) of these educational institutions? Based on the analysis of the primary and secondary sources of Chilean educational, economic, ideological, and political networks, this study advances in the characterization of the private sector of education provision subsidized by the State. The research results indicate the strong presence of private providers with strong religious and economic connections. These education private providers constitute a power group in comparison to other state subsidized private providers. Therefore, this is the group that best satisfies the regulations of current educational reform in the mandatory educational system in Chile.

Keywords: Privatization of education; Education providers (stakeholders); Freedom of education; Subsidized private schools